KEN WARKENTIN’S ROAD TO THE WINNING KEY FARM HAMBLETONIAN (G1): Week 1
Thursday, May 7, 2026
| Rank | Horse | Driver, Trainer, Owner | Ken Warkentin’s Comments | |
| 1 | Apex
(Walner) |
Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander. Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable, Steve Stewart | Dan Patch Award winner, money leader ($871,798), won NJSS & NJ Classic Finals, Peter Haughton Memorial & Mohawk Million in 1:51.4, Melander finished second four times, Dexter Dunn third in 2025 with Winterbook favorite & Melander trainee Maryland, scheduled to train @ Big M on May 8 & qualify May 23 | |
| 2 | Endurance
(Captain Corey)
|
Andrew McCarthy, Christopher Beaver, Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, Mark Moger | First crop of 2021 Hambo winner Captain Corey, won six of eight starts, including two KYSS Finals, second in Mohawk Million, mark of 1:52.3, earned $557,450, won 1:53.4 qualifier on April 16 @ Spring Garden Ranch, track record 1:51.3 in Oak Grove Derby elim | |
| 3 | Spencer Hanover
(Chapter Seven) |
Jason Bartlett, Marcus Melander, Jeffrey Synder, Arthur Pronti | Won Big Apple Trot Final in 1:52.3, also Breeders Crown elimination & final, second by a head in Valley Victory, earned $649,889, Melander sent out four in last year’s Hambo (second & third), dominated Oak Grove Derby elim in 1:53.4 | |
| 4 | Diabolic Hill
(Muscle Hill) |
Todd McCarthy, Annie Stoebe, Mazza Racing Stables, | Won Breeders Crown elimination in 1:53.1, close second in final, turned the tables on Spencer Hanover in the Valley Victory in 1:53.3, banked $506,636, Todd McCarthy scored the biggest upset (52-1) in Hambo history in 2022 with Cool Papa Bell, entered to qualify @ Big M on May 8 | |
| 5 | AI
(Chapter Seven)
|
Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, Burke Racing Stable, Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc, Weaver Bruscemi LLC | 14 – 5-1-4 record, won NYSS Final, second in Kindergarten Final, banked $395,073, Yannick Gingras won his first Hambo in 2024 with Karl & second for the fourth time last year with Super Chapter, second (1:51.4) in Oak Grove Derby elim | |
| 6 | Nix Nacken
(Muscle Hill) |
Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander, Courant Inc. | Won NJ Classic Conso (1:55) & INSS division (1:52.2), second by a nose to Mr Big Spender in Bluegrass, third in Valley Victory, earned $187,186, 2009 winner Muscle Hill looks for fourth siring credit, third (1:52) in Oak Grove Derby elim | |
| 7 | Big Ranger
(In Range) |
Ronnie Gillespie, Madison Global | 2025 Ohio Horse of the Year went seven-for-seven, track records @ Scioto Downs & Dayton, broke in 3YO debut April 23, rebounded with 1:53 qualifier … “He’s a horse that has it all, he’s just a natural,” said trainer Gillespie, faded to fourth in Oak Grove Derby elim | |
| 8 | Magic Punk
(Wishing Stone) |
Ake Svanstedt, Magic Punk Inc. | Runner up in the Wellwood & Peter Haughton, third in Kindergarten Final, banked $220,878, Svanstedt won his third Hambo in 2025 with Nordic Catcher S in stakes record 1:50, rallied to 1:53.1 stakes record Dexter Cup in 3YO debut | |
| 9 | Mr Big Spender
(Captain Corey) |
Mike Wilder, Norm Parker, Bart Brice, Todd Brice | Bluegrass winner in 1:51.2, third in the Peter Haughton Memorial & Breeders Crown Final, earned $273,180, two qualifiers @ The Meadows, 1:57.2 win April 21, then broke on lead April 28, post six in PASS division May 8 | |
| 10 | Ardonne
(Tactical Landing) |
Scott Zeron, Megan Scran, Philip Steinberg | Won elimination in 1:54.4 & final William Wellwood Memorial in 1:52.4, second by a head to Apex in NJSS Final, banked $289,150, Scott Zeron seeks his fourth Hambo | |
| Date | Stakes | Site | Winner | Driver | Trainer | 2nd Horse | 3rd Horse | Time |
| May 2 | Dexter Cup | M | MAGIC PUNK | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Southwind Alamo | WHO’S EYES BLUES | 1:53.1 |
| May 4 | Oak Grove Elim | OG | SPENCER HANOVER | Jason Bartlett | Marcus Melander | Geologic | IMPOSSIBLE BI | 1:53.4 |
| May 4 | Oak Grove Elim | OG | Silverstein | Dave Miller | Matthew Burkholder | REQIUEM | KINGMEN | 1:52.3 |
| May 4 | Oak Grove Elim | OG | ENDURANCE | Andrew McCarthy | Christopher Beaver | AI | NIX NAKEN | 1:51.3 |
| May 8 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | ||||||
| May 8 | PASS 1st Leg | Mea | ||||||
| May 16 | Battle of Bunker Hill | PR | ||||||
| May 16 | Oak Grove Derby | OG | ||||||
| May 18 | PA Allstars | Poc | ||||||
| May 23 | NJSS 1st Leg | M | ||||||
| May 25 | NYSS 1st Leg | Ver | ||||||
| June 5 | NYSS 2nd Leg | TD | ||||||
| June 5 | NJSS 2nd Leg | M | ||||||
| June 5 | Goodtimes Elim | MO | ||||||
| June 5 | Goodtimes Elim | MO | ||||||
| June 6 | PASS 2nd Leg | Poc | ||||||
| June 12 | NJSS Final | M | ||||||
| June 12 | EBC Division | Ver | ||||||
| June 12 | EBC Division | Ver | ||||||
| June 13 | Goodtimes Final | MO | ||||||
| June 19 | Yonkers Trot Elim | Y | ||||||
| June 24 | NYSS 3rd leg | Buf | ||||||
| June 26 | Yonkers Trot Final | Y | ||||||
| June 26 | Currier & Ives | Mea | ||||||
| July 4 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
| July 4 | Reynolds | M | ||||||
| July 11 | Stanley Dancer | M | ||||||
| July 11 | Stanley Dancer | M | ||||||
| July 19 | Zweig Memorial | V | ||||||
| July 23 | NYSS 4th Leg | Y | ||||||
| July 25 | Tompkins-Geers | M | ||||||
| July 25 | Tompkins-Geers | M | ||||||
| Aug. 1 | Hambo Elim | M | ||||||
| Aug. 1 | Hambo Elim | M |
FanDuel Championships
Track Conditions
Updated
05/02/2026
Fast
Variant:
Weather
East Rutherford, US
7:05 am,
May 8, 2026
43°F
overcast clouds